A 60,000 BTU cooling unit has how many tons of cooling capacity?

To determine the cooling capacity of a unit in tons, it's important to understand the relationship between BTUs (British Thermal Units) and tons. One ton of cooling capacity is equivalent to 12,000 BTUs per hour. Therefore, to convert BTUs to tons, you would divide the total BTUs by 12,000.

In this case, for a 60,000 BTU cooling unit:

60,000 BTU ÷ 12,000 BTU/ton = 5 tons of cooling capacity.

Thus, the correct answer of 5 tons indicates that the cooling unit can effectively cool an area that requires that level of cooling power. Understanding this conversion is essential for contractors and HVAC professionals when sizing equipment for residential or commercial applications, ensuring that the cooling system installed meets the needs of the structure it serves.